Folding chair



Aug. 14, 1945. I

R. w. plcK' FOLDING 0mm Fi led March 15, 194:5

2 sheets-s eet 1 mm mum E44,? D/OK v R w. DICK 2,382,300

FOLDING CHAIR v Filed March 15, '1945 2 sheets-s eet 2 Patented Aug. 14, 1945 1-1pm This invention relatesto improvements in folding chairs of that typewhere the seat, whenthe chair is folded, rests :with its upper face against the back-rest and the forelegs rest, againstthe rear legs beneath the folded seat. l

Structures of this character generally. have many parts formed of materials such as steel, that have become scarceand their use is necessarily restricted now because of the prevailing conditions of belligerency. In order to continue production of such structures for general use it is highly desirable to afford a structure so designed asrequires less or at least no more of the restricted materials than the established tolerance.

An object of the instant invention is .to provide a chair structure so made that it requires only such proportion of the restricted materials as conforms with the tolerance permitted.

Another objectof the invention is to construct a folding chair with its various parts made for themost part of more available unrestricted materials without impairment in either the stability or operation of the chair. i

, Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in the following description.

S PATENT pence l "2,382,300; i M l NGliAiltf:

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An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a sideelevational view of a folding chair in which the invention is incorporated, the

view being in vertical section, and the chair in partially collapsed position; i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front' elevational view of the chair in extended position for use; 7

Fig. Bis another fragmentary front elevational view of the chair in collapsed position;

Fig.4 is a perspective view' of pivoted swinging frame membersfor connecting the folding seat of the chair with 'the foreleg and rear leg structures thereof;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a link and bracket pivoted together for connecting the chair'seat and the foreleg structure; and i Fig. 6 is a detail view in transverse section .showing the relative arrangement of the parts when the chair is extended for use.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are drawn to enlarged scales. The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a rigid'main frame, constituting the back-rest and rear legs of the chair, a foreleg structure, a folding seat connected to the main frame, a pivoted swinging frame structure connecting the seat with the main frame and foreleg structure, and links connecting the upper 7 end of the foreleg structure and the seat.

- tions of the side membersconstitute rear legs s,

and preferably are connected together by a crosspiece In for stability. i i

The foreleg'structure includesforelegs II' and other cross-pieces l2 secured therebetween, suitably spaced apart, to hold them definitely infrel ative positions with respect to each other.

The seat preferably consists of a seat name having side members I3 connected at their forward ends by a cross-piece l4, and a cover l5superimposed thereon. The side members are pro vided with hinge brackets l6 secured totheir inner faces and pivotally connected to the corresponding inner faces of the side members I of themain frame, as indicated by l6. so theseat folds upwardly against the back-'rest fl. e I The pivotedjswinging frame structj re consists of two elements, oneof which is a rectangular frame having side bars ll,;the opposite endsof which are secured respectively 'to corresponding end bars l8I9-transversely disposed, and which are provided at each of their ends witha nun nion 20. The'other element is a U shapedframe consisting of a rock-bar 2| provided with atrunnion 22 ateach end thereof, and havingfor-j wardly extending arms 23 that are pivotedcorrespondingly at their forward ends to the side bars I! of the other element at points located be,- tween the ends thereof as indicated by 24 When the swinging-frame structure is positioned in the swinging frame structure between thefmain' frame and foreleg structure and also between the main frame and the seat frame.

The links 25 each consist of a bent bar of metal having shaped therein an elongated rib 26 that has the dual purpose of strengthening the link and affording reception of .a latch member 21 located and projecting from the inner face of the corresponding side member l3 of the seat frame when the chair is in extended position for use, thus to yieldingly sustain the movable parts in their extended positions; The rear ends of stricted to pivotal action.,

the links are pivotally connected to the side memstituting a back-rest and rear legs, a foreleg struc ture, a seat having pivotal connection with said main frame for upwardfolding movement thereon, a swinging frame element having side bars and transverse end bars provided with trunnions i that extend respectively into the seat and foreleg the seat rests upon the top of the foreleg strut- I when folded (Fig. 3) the upper face of the seat ture rests against the rear legs beneath the seat.

' ture (Fig. 2) and is latched in such position, and l5 bears against the back-rest and the.forelegstrucstructure for turning movement therein, another swinging frame element having a transverse rockbar provided with trunnions that extend into the corresponding side members 'of said main frame for'turning movement therein and provided with forwardly extending arms that have pivotal connections respectively with the side bars of the other element at points between th end bars thereof, and links having pivotal connections at their opposite ends respectively with the seat and V the foreleg structure, the arrangement of the The unit composed of the'rectangular irame of trunnions on the end bars Ill-l9 and the rock-bar 2 I, with the foreleg structure, the seat and; rearlegs with-which the unit has pivotal relation with eachof, those parts of the chair, thus the ,movements of the foreleg structure and seat relative to the mainframe aredefinitely re- Variations from the particulari'.construction above disclosed maybe resorted to by the exercise of ,skill in the art, without departure from the scope of the invention, and the following claims are intended to be inclusiveof such variations.

l.; Inafolding chair, a rigid main frameconti i i ae, beck-rest an rear, l g .a; .e ee str u'zture, a seat having pivotal connection with said" main frame for upward folding movement thereon, a swinging frame element having side bars and transverse end bars provided Withtrunnionsithat extend respectively into the seat: and foreleg structure for turning movement therein, another swinging frame element having a transverse'rock-bar provided with trurn ions that extend; into the correspondingside members of said mainframe forturning movement therein and provided with forwardly I extending arms; that have pivotal connections respectively with. the side blrsjof'the; other element. at points between the end' barsthereof and links having pivotalcone nectionsat. their. opposite ends respectively with the seat-and the foreleg structure, each provided with a at, and lat ch members in the seat dis-; posed to have. latchin engagement i'nflsai-d; ribs, the. arrangement of the swinging frame elements, andtheir connections with each other and withthe main frame, seat and forelegstructure, and the connectionsfotthe links with the; seat foreleg struct'urebeing such that when the chair is. fully extended forfuse, the 'seatrests upon the top of the foreleg structureandis latched in sucht position, andlwhen. folded the top faceiof theseat. bears. against the back-restand theforeleg struc; ture re'stsagainst 'therear legs-beneath; the seat, and relative lateral sway of the mainframaseat and foreleg structure is prevented. T In afolding chair, a rigid main framecone and the U-shaped frame is connected, by way swinging frame' elements, and their connections with each other and with the main frame, seat and foreleg structure, and the connections of the links with the seat-and foreleg structure being such that when the chair is fully extended for usa the seat rests upon'the t'op of the foreleg structure, and-'Wherifolded -the-top face of the seat bears against the baek rest and the foreleg structure rests against the rear legs beneath the seat-and relative lateralsway of the main frame, seat and foreleg structure is prevented.

' 3: Afoldin-g chair-consisting of a main frame constituting aback-rest and rear legs, a seat the frame of which has hinged connections with the main frame for folding movement thereon, a foreleg structure, links pivotedfattheir" opposite ends to said seat-and foreleg structure respectively, and swinging frame elements, one of which has side bars and transverse'end bars, said end bars having pivotal connections-respectively with the seat frameand' foreleg structure, the other'eiement havinga transverse rock-bar pivoted the main frame and. provid'ed 'with forwardly extending arms pivoted respectively at their" forward ends tosaidrsid'ebars; the arrangement of saidelemerits andsaid links int-lie chair structure being such that upon folding of 'theseat against the backerest' .theforeleg structure is automatically moved to: closedz p'osition against therear legs and relative lateral sway of said foreleg structurewith respeettotheiseat-i-s circumvented V v .4; In af'olding chair structure of thetype having a mainqfirame-constituting.a back-rest and rear legs, a seat-pivoted to-theback-rest, and a foreleg structure foldinglyiconnectedi to the" seat, wherebyritheiseat,folds uspvvardlytonto said backrest andsaddrforelegxstructure folds against said legs=,-.:1in-k connections between: said; seat and foreleg structure; and: 'aswinging frame structure having two.-pivotallyr connectecl.el'emerits one of which. has; a transverse rock bar, pivotedv the mainframe and the" other element having transverse end bars pivoted respectivelyinsaid seat and. toreleg structure, wherefore, during folding and unfotldinga of thechair, movementsjo .saidiseat and foreleg structure are concurrent a ct relative atenelr wa h reo i umv ted=- i RALPH WrnoK. 

